VAF-5D2b Optical Anti-Aliasing Filter: Removal

Camera OFF while Mounting / Dismounting Lens If certain lenses are removed from the 5D Mark II while it is turned on, their iris setting may be misread by the camera when they are reinstalled. (This issue is unrelated to the VAF-5D2b, and can happen even if the VAF-5D2b isn't being used.) The power on/off instructions included below will ensure that this doesn't happen. If you inadvertently remove a lens with the camera on and cause this to occur, the solution is just to manually adjust the camera iris control to fully open the lens, and then to re-adjust it to your desired f-stop.

Avoid Touching Optical Surfaces As with all precision coated optics, fingerprints and smudges on the VAF-5D2b can degrade image quality, and can be challenging to remove completely (especially when you're in a hurry.) When handling the VAF-5D2b, be extra careful to avoid touching its optical surfaces.

The VAF-5D2b is easily removed from the camera with the wire removal tool (shown) that is provided along with it.

Find an area as free of dust and dirt as possible.

Turn the camera OFF (see Note above), and remove its lens.

If you wish, you may turn the camera on and press it's "Live-View" button to keep the reflex mirror raised during the removal process, but this isn't strictly necessary.

Engage the opposing ends of the removal tool in the two small holes provided for this purpose at the center of the left and right sides of the VAF-5D2b. Be careful not to scratch the filter's optical surface with the ends of the wire tool.

The holes may under certain conditions be difficult to see, as they lie within the areas of the filter covered with the black flocked anti-reflective material.

Gently pull the VAF-5D2b from the camera body with the removal tool, just until its sides can be easily grasped by the fingers.

We recommend not using the removal tool alone to pull the filter all the way out of the camera body: If for some reason the ends of the wire removal tool were not fully engaged in their holes as intended, the filter could fall from the removal tool upon sliding free of the camera body.

Instead, use your fingers to remove the VAF-5D2b from the camera. Disengage the removal tool from the filter, and replace the filter and the tool into their container.

Note that the removal tool fits into its own separate slot in the contoured foam of the storage container, so that it cannot contact and scratch the filter during storage.

If you did not press the "Live-View" button as above, then the reflex mirror will drop safely to its lowered position as the VAF-5D2b slides from the camera body.